While it's 12 months later than originally planned, Australia's athletes are finally arriving in Tokyo and a number of them will have their sights set firmly on bringing a gold medal home with them.
Australia has announced a bumper team of 488 athletes for this year's Games and within that group, there are many strong chances to be standing on top of the medal dais.
Some young stars are set to light up Tokyo in the pool while many of our team sports stand a great chance of taking out their competition.
Sporting News has combed the Australian team to look at their best chances of gold at what could be one of Australia's most successful Olympics since Beijing 2008.
Swimming
As usual, some of Australia's best medal hopes will be in the pool.
This year, Australia has taken a 34-strong swimming team to Tokyo as they look to improve on their ten medals from Rio.
Australia won three gold medals in the pool in 2016 and the Dolphins stand a good chance of improving on that number.
Here are their best hopes in Tokyo.
Kaylee McKeown
One of Australia's newest stars in the pool, McKeown is a red hot chance to bring home multiple gold medals.
McKeown will be competing in three individual events at Tokyo, the 100m backstroke, the 200m backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley.
The 20-year-old is currently the top-ranked swimmer in the world for each of those events this season. Will be hard to beat.
Ariarne Titmus
Titmus burst onto the scene at the 2018 Commonwealth Games but now she's really ready to make her mark in Tokyo.
She currently has three individual events on her programme for Tokyo, the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle.
Titmus has the fastest times in the world this year in the 200m and 400m freestyle. American rival Katie Ledecky holds the fastest time in the 800m.
This pair doing battle in the pool will be one of the must-watch events at Tokyo 2020.
Emma McKeon
She's already won Olympic medals but McKeon is on track to make waves in the pool in Tokyo.
McKeon has one of the busiest programmes of any Australian athlete. She's down to compete in the 50m butterfly as well as the 50m, 100m & 200m freestyle.
The 27-year-old has the fastest times in the world this season for the 50m and 100m freestyle. She's in the top four for the 200m freestyle while she's less than half a second off the best time for the 50m butterfly.
It could be a big week in the pool for McKeon.
Cate Campbell
The good news for the Aussies is if McKeon doesn't sweep up in the pool, it's a fair chance that's because Cate Campbell has just pipped her.
The Australian flag bearer will be competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle in Tokyo and her times are just behind McKeon, placing her second quickest in the world.
It looks set to be a shoot out between the two Australians in two of the marquee swimming events.
Kyle Chalmers
Chalmers is the only individual member of the team heading to Tokyo to defend their gold medal from 2016. It places a lot of pressure on him especially when the rest of the world has put a target on his back.
Chalmers will be swimming in the 100m and 200m freestyle, of course the 100m was the race he won gold in back in Rio.
His time of 47.59 has him placed sixth fastest in the world going into Tokyo. Caleb Dressel is a huge favourite while Romania's David Popovici is going into the event ranked number one in the world with a time of 47.30.
The Aussie will have his work cut out for him if he's to return with another gold hanging around his neck but don't count him out.
Elijah Winnington
The 21-year-old from the Gold Coast will be flying Australia's hopes in the 400m freestyle after Mack Horton failed to qualify to defend his Rio gold.
But Winnington has shown in recent weeks he knows only one way, and it's in his name. To win.
He will be competing in both the 200m and 400m freestyle with the longer distance his preferred event.
His time of 3:42.65 at the Australian Trials in June has him ranked number one in the world this season and well-placed to win gold at his maiden international meet.
Matthew Temple
The unsung butterflier from Victoria produced a fantastic meet at the Australian Trials to place himself perfectly for a shot at gold in Tokyo.
Temple qualified for the 100m and 200m butterfly, as well as the 100m freestyle in an incredible swim.
The 100m butterfly is likely to be his best shot at gold, he is currently ranked third in the world after his swim of 50.45 at the trials. It still places him the best part of a second behind Caleb Dressel.
Relays
The relays are of course where Australia always does its best work.
Australia are the defending champions in the Women's 4x100m freestyle relay and with the likes of Cate Campbell and Emma McKeon in the squad, they'll likely be competitive again.
We will also see the mixed relay for the first time at the Olympics, with the 4x100m medley relay another great chance for Australia to bring home gold.
Athletics
Stewart McSweyn
Stewart McSweyn stands as Australia's best hope to win a men's track event since 1968. Sally Pearson was the last Australian to win a track gold medal in London 2012.
McSweyn is solely focusing on his main event, the 1500m, and on the back of some fantastic times, he could be in with a shot for a medal.
He's currently ranked fifth in the world for the event and after breaking the Australian Record in Oslo earlier this year, don't surprise if he's near the front of the pack at the final turn.
Jessica Hull
Another Aussie who has been going from strength to strength on the international circuit, Hull is well placed for her debut Olympic Games.
She will also be focusing on the 1500m and is coming into the Olympics in red-hot form after just missing out on a PB in California.
Hull is a wider chance than McSweyn but she's the sort of competitor who will leave everything out on the track.
Nicola McDermott
The high jumper became the first Australian woman to break the two-metre mark and has already broken the Aussie record twice this year.
Her best jump of the season is 2.01m in Stockholm, only two centimetres behind the best mark in the world this year.
It has pushed her straight in contention for a medal this year considering the winning mark in Rio 2016 was only 1.97m.
Not to be outdone, fellow Aussie Eleanor Patterson is also ranked in the top ten in the world for women's high jump and has a season-best jump of 1.96m.
Basketball
Boomers
If there was ever a year for the Boomers to finally win an Olympic medal, this is it.
An incredible team with even more incredible chemistry, the pieces are finally coming together for that elusive medal.
While most members of the team just want to win that medal, after incredible results in the warm-up matches that included a win over the USA, gold is now a realistic goal.
Led by Brian Goorjian and the experienced duo of Patty Mills and Joe Ingles, this Aussie team is ready to take it to the world.
FIBA even have them as the number one ranked team in their power rankings going into the tournament.
Opals
Like the Boomers, the Opals have a goal of winning gold in Tokyo and certainly have the team that could bring home that medal.
They beat the USA in their only warm-up game before heading to Japan for the Games.
While the withdrawal of Liz Cambage is a massive blow, the performance in that match shows that they're not going to use that as an excuse or let it be a distraction.
There are some talented players in this squad, many of whom are playing in the WNBA like Alanna Smith, Ezi Magbegor and Rebecca Allen.
Never sleep on the Opals.
Beach Volleyball
Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar
Clancy and Artacho del Solar are a great chance of achieving something special in Tokyo.
The pair are ranked fifth in the world going into the Games and are fresh off a win in Cancun in their first competition back since the COVID-19 pandemic.
They've spend the lead-up to the Games in Europe getting more games under their belt and looked primed for a medal challenge this fortnight.
Boxing
Skye Nicolson
After winning gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Nicolson immediately turned her focus to these Olympic Games.
It has been her dream since she was a kid to win Olympic gold and now she finally has the chance to do it after narrowly missing out on the team for the 2016 Games.
She will be competing in the featherweight division and stands a great chance of winning Australia's first Olympic gold in boxing.
Paulo Aokuso
The 24-year-old light-heavyweight also stands in a great position to potentially make his way onto the podium.
Aokuso defeated the number two ranked boxer in his division last year.
He could certainly be within a sniff of the medals in Tokyo.
Canoeing
Jess Fox
It's no surprise that Jess Fox is up there with one of Australia's best chances for a gold medal in Tokyo.
She came home with bronze from Rio and will be looking to go better this year after already claiming a silver at London 2012.
At her third Olympics, Fox is a chance of bringing home two golds as she will be competing in the C1 and K1 events. This is the first time women will compete in the C1 at the Olympics.
She won gold at the recent World Cup in the C1, while she took home bronze in the K1 event.
This is going to be Fox's year, we can feel it.
Cycling - BMX, Road and Track
Logan Martin
Martin is a heavy favourite for gold after winning the 2021 BMX freestyle World Championships earlier this year..
He has built a training facility in his own backyard just to get him in shape for all of his competitions, and Tokyo is one of the few remaining on his list to check off.
This year will be the first time we see BMX Freestyle at the Olympics and Martin is a good chance to grab that inaugural gold medal.
Rohan Dennis
Competing in the time trial, Rohan Dennis is a great chance of picking up a medal.
He was unlucky in Rio and will be doing everything to make sure his preparation is right coming into Tokyo.
He's won the individual time trial at the World Championships twice, now he just needs to take that form into the Olympics.
Field Hockey
Kookaburras
The Aussie men's hockey team, better known as the Kookaburras, are certainly well placed for a gold medal charge in Tokyo.
They are the number one ranked team in the world in the FIH standings heading into the Olympics, ahead of Belgium and the Netherlands.
Australia has only ever won the one gold medal in men's field hockey, Athens 2004. This could be their best chance to add a second to that tally.
Football
Matildas
The Matildas are one of the best teams in the world and on their day they can match it with just about anyone.
They've struggled in recent matches under new coach Tony Gustavsson, but the talent in the squad is still there.
Led by Sam Kerr (sadly in the #2 and not the #20 jumper), the team will be looking to bounce back to life in Tokyo.
It could be part of a memorable gold medal run befitting of a team truly taking it to the best in the world.
Rowing
Australia's men's and women's fours stand a great chance of bringing home gold from Tokyo.
The coxless women’s four are the current world champions after winning in Austria in 2019.
Lucy Stephan was in that boat in Austria and will be there again in Tokyo.
Sam Hardy and Josh Hicks placed third at the 2019 World Championships in the men's pair and could force their way onto the podium in Tokyo.
Rugby 7s
Women's Rugby 7s
The Women's Rugby 7s team was one of the stories of the Rio 2016 when they claimed the gold medal.
Now the team will be looking to defend their title in Tokyo.
There were some surprise squad selections with rapid winger Ellia Green overlooked, however the experienced duo of Shannon Parry and Sharni Williams will be leading the team in Tokyo.
Australia finished second in the 2020 World Sevens series with New Zealand likely to be the team they'll have to beat if they want to claim back-to-back golds.
Sailing
Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse
The pair will be competing in Tokyo in the Mixed Nacra 17 and will be looking to add to some outstanding international results in recent years.
They're ranked number eight in the world and will be hoping to go one better than their silver medal in Rio.
Darmanin and Waterhouse have been racing together for years and that experience is set to give them a boost when they take to the water on Enoshima Yacht Harbour.
Mat Belcher & Will Ryan
Competing in the men's 470 class, Belcher and Ryan are a fantastic chance of snaring gold in Tokyo.
The pair have been performing fantastically on the international circuit in recent months, timing their run perfectly for the Olympic Games.
Matt Wearn
Australia has a great record in the single-handed Laser class having won the last two Olympic gold medals.
Wearn will debut in Tokyo and beat out reigning gold medal winner Tom Burton for his spot at the Games.
If that's not an indication of how good Wearn is, wait until you see him hit the water in Enoshima.
Shooting
Australia has a few chances when it comes to shooting at the Tokyo Games.
While none of the athletes are going in as overwhelming favourites, there are some experienced competitors hoping to shake up the competition in Tokyo.
Sergei Evglevski has had some impressive performances in recent years and will be competing in the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol.
While Lateisha Scanlan and Penny Smith are both ranked inside the top 15 in the world for the Women's Trap shooting.
James Willett is also inside the top 15 in the world for the Men's Trap shooting.
Softball
Softball is making its triumphant return to the Olympics and will be the first event on Wednesday, July 21.
Australia has a great history in the sport at the Games but has never been able to win that elusive gold medal.
Stacey Porter is the lone representative from Athens 2004 and is leading a team full of world beaters and up and coming stars.
Currently ranked eighth in the world, they'll have their work cut out for them but the passion within the squad is set to shine in the next fortnight and will make them a tough opponent for any side.
Surfing
Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons
Surfing will be making its Olympic debut in Tokyo and Australia is well placed to bring home the inaugural gold.
Steph Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons are both in the top five in the World Surf League going into the Olympics.
Now it just remains to be seen if they can master the waves at Tsurigasaki Beach and get on top of their competition.
Tennis
Ash Barty
How could we go past world number one, Ash Barty?
The tennis superstar is fresh off a maiden Wimbledon singles title after a fantastic fortnight in London.
She's well placed for a deep run in Tokyo, especially with a number of highly-ranked competitors withdrawing from the Games.
Barty is also a fantastic doubles player and will be playing in the tournament with Storm Sanders and could be a chance of going all the way.
Water Polo
The Australian teams are flying a bit blind going into the Games.
Because of COVID-19, they haven't had as many (if any) chances to compete on the world stage to see how they rank with the rest of the world.
The women's team, in particular, has the potential to cause some damage to the Tokyo competition on the back of some fantastic young players.
With a great mix of experience and youth, The Stingers will be one to watch in Japan.
